Database Selection > Database Server Configuration

If you need to use a shared database, such as in an office environment where everyone needs to have access to a comment database, you will need to install the database server to manage the sharing of that database. At the time of this writing, the server installation setup program can be downloaded from here. When executed, it will both install the server and a set of empty database files into a default folder of:

C:\Databases\WhisperReporterV2\Shared

If the folder already contains a set of database files, they will be left as-is. However, the Firebird3 server will be terminated and updated if it is already installed; therefore, be sure no one is accessing the shared database at the time.

If you would prefer to start with a current more populated database rather than a blank database, you won't be able to restore a full backup. Instead you will have to manually copy the four database files from another location such as your local database. You can find those files by clicking the Open Database Location link next to the desired database in WhisperReporter Ascent's Database Selection dialog on the machine you want to pull the database files from. The four files to copy are:

•WHISPERDATABASEV2.FDB

•WHISPERREPORTER_IMAGES.FDB

•WHISPERREPORTER_THUMBS.FDB

•WHISPERREPORTER_VIDEOS.FDB

Accessing the shared database from other PCs

Depending on what firewall you are using, the TCP/IP port might or might not be automatically opened for access by other PCs on the network. Usually the default port 3050 will be set as open on a private network but not on the public network which should be fine for in-house access by other PCs.

If you need to change the port...

1.Edit the firebird.conf file found under C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_3_0 (you will need administrative privileges to do this, or copy it to your Documents folder, edit it there and then copy it back).

2.Find and edit the line that contains: RemoteServicePort. Remove the leading # character if it exists and change the value from 3050 to an unused port such as 3051 for example.

3.Save your changes

4.Restart the Firebird server by bringing up the Windows Task Manager and selecting the Services tab. Find the entry FirebirdServerDefaultInstance and then right click and select Restart from the pop-up menu.

If you need to open the port (using Windows 10's Defender Firewall as an example)...

1.For Windows 10, select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & Network protection.

2.This opens another dialog in which you will select Allow an app through firewall.

3.Click the [Change settings] button which allows you to edit the entries.

4.Select the Firebird SQL Server and select at least the Private checkbox for local in-house network access. If you want to allow for public network access, also select the Public checkbox.

5.Click the [Details...] button to edit the port number as needed. If you have more than one Firebird server, such as Firebird2 and Firebird3, you might have to add an additional Firebird SQL Server entry so that both ports (3050 and 3051 for example) can be opened.

6.Click [OK] when finished editing all the Firebird SQL Server entries as needed.